Dripless vacuum nozzle

ABSTRACT

This invention is a dripless vacuum nozzle for use in an apparatus for vacuum packaging articles in flexible pouches or bags. The neck of a filled bag is placed around the barrel of the nozzle, and downward movement of the barrel clamps the bag neck between the barrel and a plunger located in and below the opening to the barrel. The bag remains in this clamped position as it is evacuated completely afterwhich it is sealed and severed from the clamp. A pivotally operated ball valve, drip collection cup, and ball check valve prevent any moisture from dripping into the package while it is being evacuated.

United States Patent 1191 Waldrop et a1.

[ DRIPLESS VACUUM NOZZLE [75] Inventors: Thomas E. Waldrop, Greer; Robert S. Hawkins, Spartanburg, both of S.C.

[52] US. Cl. 53/79, 53/112 B, 141/65 [51] Int. Cl B65b 31/04 [58] Field of Search 53/79, 112 B; 141/46, 65

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1970 Kraft et a1. 53/112 B 12/1973 Waldrop et a1. 53/112 B [11] 3,834,118 [451 Sept. 10, 1974 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John J. Toney; William D. Lee, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT This invention is a dripless vacuum nozzle for use in an apparatus for vacuum packaging articles in flexible pouches or bags. The neck of a filled bag is placed around the barrel of the nozzle, and downward movement of the barrel clamps the bag neck between the barrel and a plunger located in and below the opening to the barrel. The bag remains in this clamped position as it is evacuated completely afterwhich it is sealed and severed from the clamp. A pivotally operated ball valve, drip collection cup, and ball check valve prevent any moisture from dripping into the package while it is being evacuated.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEOsEP 1 01924 SHEET t 0F 6 FIG. 40

FIG. 4b

PAIENIEDSEPI 0:914

SHED 5 OF 6 PAI I nswomu I 3.884.118 v sum ear 6 DRIPLESS VACUUM NOZZLE FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a nozzle for a vacuum packaging apparatus. Particularly, this invention relates to nozzles for the vacuum packaging of articles in flexible, relatively impervious pouches or bags. The articles packaged are preferably, poultry, ham, and like food products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many different vacuumizing nozzle designs are available in the prior art. One particularly pertinent nozzle is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,094,825 issued to F. J. Bracey et al. The nozzle disclosed in the Bracey patent has a coaxially disposed flared nozzle extension in the center of the nozzle barrel which serves to clamp the neck of a bag between the flared extension or plunger and the barrel of the nozzle. One of the objects in the present invention is to provide a vacuumizing apparatus employing a nozzle which is an improvement over the aforementioned nozzle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuumizing apparatus which is simpler and easier for an operator to load and use than those in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nozzle which prevents dripping of moisture back into the bagged product.

The foregoing and other objects will become evident from the following summary of the invention, the description of the preferred embodiment, and the attached drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The preferred nozzle of the present invention is one having a barrel slidably mounted in a cover and having upper and lower nozzle portions coaxially positioned in the barrel. The upper and lower portions have communicating passageways therethrough and are resiliently held together with a ball valve therebetween. Attached to the lower end of the lower nozzle portion is a flared resilient plunger which is positioned outside of the barrel so that a bag neck can be clamped therebetween. The lower nozzle portion can be swung a limited distance like a pendulum and such motion will open the ball valve between the nozzle portions. When the ball valve is opened. the central vacuum duct or passageway in the upper portion will reduce pressure in the barrel, and the barrel, being slidably mounted, will move down upon the plunger under the force created by the air pressure differential thus clamping the bag between the plunger and the barrel and at the same time lowering the pressure in the interior of the bag through the passageway in the lower nozzle portion. This clamping action will hold a filled bag. The vacuum valve and clamping action are released by the introduction of compressed air into the barrel.

The present invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which are attached hereto and made a part of this specification:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum packaging apparatus which can utilize the nozzles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a sectional elevation view looking from the lower left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a vertical section through one embodiment of the nozzle of the present invention;

FIG. 4a is a partial vertical section view showing the nozzle of FIG. 3 when the vacuum valve is open and a bag is positioned around the barrel of the nozzle;

FIG. 4b is the same view as FIG. 4a except that the barrel has descended and clamped the bag to the nozzle;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing the layout of the driving means and synchronous means for said vacuum packaging apparatus;

FIG. 6a is a schematic representation of the use of said apparatus with a straight-through conveyor;

FIG. 6b is a schematic representation of an alternate arrangement of conveyor belts for use with said apparatus;

FIG. 7a is a partial top plan view of the product locator which may be used in cooperation with the nozzle of the subject invention; and

FIG. 7b is a side elevation view of the product locator showing its operation in cooperation with the nozzle of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A VACUUM PACKAGING APPARATUS support shaft 3 which carries the revolving turret 4. Ex-

tending outwardly from the turrent 4 are arms 5. In this embodiment six arms 5 are shown, but a larger or smaller number of arms can be used. At the end of each arm 5 is a nozzle cover 6 in which a barrel 7 is slidably mounted. A flared ring or clamping plunger 8 extends .downwardly from the downwardly facing opening of the barrel 7 so that when a bag 10 filled with a product 9 has its neck placed around the barrel 7, the downward movement of the barrel 7 will clamp the neck of the bag and hold and support same.

Extending outwardly on support arm 63 is the bag closing and severing means or clipper and cutter 14 which has a clipper gate 15 through which the product enters and which gathers and compresses the bag neck before the bag is closed by clipping and then severed. The clips are fed from a magazine 16 and the closing and sealing means 14 drive the clips completely around the gathered bag neck before the bag is severed between nozzle and the clip.

Motion transfer member 17 is mounted for oscillating movement and carries arm 63 which supports the clipper l4. Attached to the motion transfer member 17 is crank drive arm 21 which is attached to crank drive wheel 22. The crank drive wheel 22 is on a common shaft with the turret drive pinion l9 and this common shaft is powered by the driving means or motor 18. The

crank arm 21 translates the rotary motion of crank drive wheel 22 into linear oscillating motion and, through motion transfer member 17 and support arm 63, oscillates clipper 14. In one arrangement, the turret drive pinion 19 has twenty gear. teeth and the turret gear 20 has 120 teeth, thus the drive pinion 19 makes six revolutions for each revolution of the turret. Hence, crank 21 makes six complete oscillations for each revolution of the turret so that there is acomplete oscillation of the clipper 14 for each of the nozzles 7. The diameter of the crank wheel 22 and the length of the crank arm 21 are set so that the stroke of thecrank arm 21 will move clipper'l4 at the same angular velocity of nozzle 7. Thus, clipper 14 is synchronized to meet a nozzle 7 at the extremity of, its clockwise stroke and then move counterclockwise with the nozzle through an are on during which time the clipping and severing are accomplished. When this is accomplished, the nozzles continue in their counterclockwise rotation next nozzle which has in the meantime moved 30 counterclockwise, the nozzles being set at 60 intervals.

To the left of drive pinion 20 is cam shaft drive gear 23. The cam gear 23 turns cam shaft 29 which is located in housing 24. Three cams on cam shaft 29 together with a switch onthe clipper control the sequence of the clippers operation. The clipper switch (not shown), when struck by the clipper barrel, closes the clipper gate and turns on the air supply tothe cam controlled switches that follow. Cam 30 actuates the clipper hammer which drives the clips securely around the bag neck, cam 31 controls the cutter which severs the bag from the nozzle, and cam 32 resets the switches for the next cycle. Each cam operates a pneumatic switch (not shown) which sends compressed air to the specified mechanism. Rods 33, 34, and '35 extend to the right-hand side of FIG. 2 and terminate in adjustment nuts 36, 37, and 38 outside housing 11. These adjustment nuts allow the position of the respective cam followers tobe adjusted so that the timing of the clipper functionsmaybe adjusted as required. A notch (not shown) is provided in the nozzle'barrel so that when'a nozzle is not loaded and lowered with a filled bag, the switch will pass through the notch and the clipper will not operate.

The compressed air for the apparatus is'supplied through line 27 which may be attached to a conventional compressor. Lines enter the apparatus at the bottom at port 39 and and a compressed air delivery tube 41 is provided by hollow support shaft 3. The bottom of support shaft 3 is journaled in sealed bearing 40.

Support shaft 3 passes through a second sealed journal 40a and immediately above is attached to turret drive gear 20 which rotatably drives the shaft 3. The shaft continues upwardly passing through the member 17 and terminates in supporting relationship with plenum 51. However, the compressed air line 41 does not enter plenum 51. The walls of plenum 51 in turn supportthe turret 4. The compressed air line 41 delivers compressed air to trunk line 42 from which compressed air lines (not shown) deliver air to switch inlets 43 of switch 46. There is one compressed air switch 46 for each vacuum nozzle 7. Switch outlet 44 which is in switch housing 45 is attached to a second vacuum line 48 (see FIG. 3) which is attached to nozzle barrel 7.

while the clipper 14 moves 30 clockwise to meet the From there a passageway 49 in the nozzle barrel 7 delivers compressed air into the interior of the nozzle barrel. Referring now to FIG. 2, the compressed air switch 46 is actuated by striker plate 47 as the switch rotates with the turret. When the switch 46 is actuated by the striker plate 47 a charge of compressed air is sent to the interior of the nozzle barrel 7 to release the nozzles from their clamping engagement with the bag as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, vacuum line 26 delivers vacuum through delivery port 50 to plenum chamber 51. From plenum chamber 51 the arms 5 extend outwardly as hollow tubes delivering vacuum to the nozzle covers 6. Referring now to FIG. 3, the end of arm 5 is shown in cover 6 and the hollow interior 52 'of the tube 5 communicates with passageway 53a in cover 6. This passageway, in turn, joins with the passageway 53 in upper nozzle section 54 and continues down through the center of the upper nozzle section. The upper nozzle terminates in a lock 81 at'its upper extremity which is keyed or pinned by pin 82 so that the nozzle will not rotate. Seals 87 are provided along the shaft of upper nozzle section 54 so there will be no leakage around its outer surfaces. The barrel 7 of the nozzle is resiliently carried by upper nozzle section 54 through coaxial coil spring 55. Thus, nozzle barrel 7 can slide upwardly and downwardly where cover surface 60 and nozzle barrel surface 61 meet. The spring rests on a shoulder at the lower part of upper nozzle section 54 and below the shoulder is valve pivot member 73. Member 73 serves both as a pivot for opening and closing the ball valve and as a seat for the ball 83. The open seat of the valve is aligned with passageway 53. Lower nozzle section 56 has inlet 77 in connecting with an interior vertical passageway which terminates in nozzle opening 59. Lower nozzle 56 is at a slight angle with respect to the vertical. The lower part of the lower nozzle section 56 has a flared rubber or resilient ring 58 which completely encircles the lower section 56. This flared locking-ring 58 also serves as a locking plunger to lock a bag neck between the plunger and the barrel.

. Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b the operation of the vacuum nozzle will be explained. An operator places the neck of the bag 10 around barrel 7 of the nozzle,

and in so doing swings lower nozzle section 56 into vertical position thus rotating section 56 on pivot 73 and moving ball 83 away from the valve seat in member 73. With lower section 56 in vertical position and ball valve 83 open, the pressure is lowered in the nozzle barrel cavity from passageway 53 through the ball valve. The interior of the barrel becomes evacuated, and at the same time the bag is evacuated. During this period of time the operator is holding the neck of the bag around the barrel 7 as shown in FIG. 4a. When the pressure differential strong enough to overcome the tension of spring 55, barrel 7 will be drawn downwardly and will clamp the bag 10 between the plunger ring 58 and the opening to the barrel as illustrated in FlGI 4b. The flexible wall of the bag 10 will always be pulled into the barrel opening to be wedged completely around the periphery of the barrel opening as shown in FIG. 4b because the vacuum acts to draw the bag neck walls against the plunger 58 and partially into the barrel cavity before the barrel 7 descends. Since a very high vacuum is employed, usually approaching 29 inches of mercury, the initial evacuation of the barrel and bag, and hence, the descent of the barrel, take place almost instaneously.

One of the major usages of nozzles of the present type is the vacuum packaging of meat and poultry products. These products will have residual water, blood, and other fluids present which will vaporize when subjected to very low pressures and thus be drawn out of the package along with the air. However, at points along the air evacuation route varying pressures because of local throttling effects and changes in surface temperatures will cause the moisture to reappear as condensate. Referring again to FIG. 3, the dripless feature of the present invention will be described. Around the upper perimeter of lower section 56, a vertical wall 78 rises to form a cup which partially encloses the lower part of upper nozzle section 54. A connecting ring 79 is provided at the top of wall 78 to connecting coil spring 80 to wall 78. Spring 80 is attached to the upper outer periphery of pivot member 73 and spring 80 provides the resilient means for holding ball valve 83 closed. As previously explained, when the lower nozzle portion 56 is swung to a vertical position, vacuum is introduced into the barrel cavity through the separation of ball valve 83 from the seat in member 73. Moisture which has collected in the cup defined by wall 78 or in channel 77 will be drawn up through and out passage 53, ball check valve 84 having closed off the opening 59. Once the barrel 7 and plunger 58 have clamped bag 10 therebetween as shown in FIG. 4b all the action of the vacuum through line 53 will be concentrated through channel 77 and will unseat ball 84 and open the passageway to the nozzle opening 59. Moisture collected around and above ball 84 will move upwardly as soon as the ball 84 lifts, and the moisture will travel through channel 77, valve 83, and passageway 53. When evacuation of the bag is complete the pressure above and below the ball 84 will be equal and the ball will fall under gravitational forces onto the seat in member 85 thus closing off the end of the nozzle. This prevents any drippage of moisture into the bag whichis, of course, undesirable from a sanitation standpoint.

When evacuation of the bag is complete and the bag has been severed from the nozzle, a charge of compressed air is supplied through port 49. This serves to unlock the clamping action by driving the mouth or opening of barrel 7 up off plunger ring 58. The compressed air charge is actuated by compressed air switch 46 striking striker plate 47 as explained in the description of FIG. 2. Striker plate 47 is located so that switch 46 will be struck as a nozzle leaves a clipper or sealing and severing means.

FIG. 5 shows the layout of the turret drive gear and the crank which oscillates the clipper arm. This view is with the turret and upper housing removed and is looking down on the gear-and drive area. In this view, the motor drive pinion 19 is below crank wheel 22, but crank wheel 22 and the drive pinion turn at the same angular velocity being driven off the common vertical shaft from the drive means which is an electric motor. Connecting rod or crank arm 21 is shown connected to a portion of the motion transfer member 17. This is the member which carries the arm 63 which support the clipper. The drive pinion turns the turret drive gear and the central support shaft 3 is fixed to the hub of gear 20. The central compressed air delivery channel 41 which is the hollow portion of support shaft 3 is also shown in this view as is cam shaft drive gear 23.

Turning now to FIGS. 6a and 6b, two of the several possible arrangements of the vacuum apparatus using the nozzles of the present invention with conveyor belts are shown. In FIG. 6a the product 9 is shown moving in the direction of the arrows on the conveyor belt 65. The product 9 will usually have been bagged before reaching this point, the bagging having been done by automatic machinery downstream of the conveyor. However, in some instances the operator may bag the product at this point. In any event, the operator 66 takes a bag filled with the product 9 and places the neck of the bag around the nozzle barrel, swinging the plunger into vertical position as he does so. This initially evacuates the bag and actuates the clamping of the bag between the nozzle barrel and the plunger. From the point at which the operator 66 in FIG. 6a loads the nozzle, the filled bag rotates counterclockwise around to clipper 14 where the bag is sealed and severed and dropped onto the conveyor as the vacuumized package 10. In this arrangement control box 13 is placed within convenient reach of the operator 66 so that he may start and stop the apparatus as needed. (The location of control box 13 is also shown in FIG. 1.) Opposite the control box 13 is an auxiliary control box 69 which is so placed so that if an emergency were to arise, another person from the other side of the conveyor belt could reach across and shut off the apparatus. In this arrangement, the product 9 exits traveling in the same direction it entered.

In FIG. 6b, another arrangement is shown with a counterclockwise rotating apparatus. In this arrangement, operator 66 removes a bagged product from the infeed conveyor 67 and places it on the nozzle which rotates around to the clipper. Subsequently, the clipper seals and severs the bag dropping it onto outfeed conveyor 68. The product here exits in the direction opposite to which it entered.

Turning now to FIGS. 7a and 7b, a product spacer or guide 70 is shown attached to the clipper unit 14. The locating notch 71 on the spacer arm 70 is preferably about the same length as l/6 of the path traveled by a nozzle in a complete rotation. Thus, where six nozzles are used, the positioning notch 71 is about 60 around a circle from clipper 14. In FIG. 7b a side view of the spacer arm 70 is shown with a bag 10 filled with product 9. While the apparatus can be successfully loaded by an operator without the guide arm 70, the arm 70 provides assistance in spacing the product 9 from the nozzle 10 and forces the product 9 all the way to the bottom of the bag, thus eliminating folds and crevices where air might be trapped. This arm, of course, can be adjusted for the various size products.

The sealing and severing means or clipper 14 has not been described in detail as a satisfactory clipper 14 is commercially available. A suitable clipper for counterclockwise rotation of the apparatus of the present invention is Model Z-3l06 from the Tipper-Tie Division of Rheem Manufacturing Company of New York, New York. For clockwise rotation clipper Model Z-3l07 from the same company can be used. Other sealing and severing means which can, with some modification, be used are those devices described in either of the following U.S. Pats: No. 3,394,528 issued to M. J. G. Tipper or No. 3,046,713 issued to K. E. Belknap.

While the dripless vacuum nozzle of the present invention has been described as it can be used with one specific rotary vacuum packaging apparatus, it may be used with other apparati. For example, a single nozzle can simply be suspended from a movable vacuum line or source and the operator can place a filled bag around the nozzle barrel as illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b. After evacuation is completed the bag may be moved manually to a clipper while still clamped to the nozzle'and there the bag will be closed and severed; or, if desired manual clipping and severing out be employed. Thus, the present nozzle isnot limited to use with a specific apparatus but may be used with various vacuum packaging devices.

We claim:

1. A dripless vacuum nozzle comprising:

a. a barrel; v

b. an upper nozzle section having a passageway therethrough, said upper section being coaxially positioned within said barrel and resiliently connected thereto;

c. a lower nozzle section having an upper peripheral wall defining a moisture collecting cup, said cup having a diameter sufficient to receive a lower extremity of said upper section, and said lower section having a passageway therethrough;

d. a valve pivot member having an open valve seat therein, said pivot member being connected to the lower extremity of said upper section and said open valve seat being alinged with the passageway in said upper section; a

. resilient means connecting said pivot member and said lower section;

a ball valve member disposed on the upper surface of said lower section, said ball member being aligned to fit in said valve seat and to close same, and the height of said ball member with respect to said pivot, member being such that the lower nozzle section tilts from vertical alignment within said barrel when said ball valve is closed;

g. check valve means in the passageway in said lower section, said check valve means opening and closing in response to differential air pressure whereby, when said lower section is tilted so that it is vertical, air can be withdrawn through the passageway in said upper portion, through said ball valve, and through said passageway in said lower section to open said check valve thereby making a complete evacuation path to the lower tip of said lower section.

2. The dripless nozzle of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said lower section is flared outwardly to form a plunger having a greater diameter than said barrel whereby said barrel and said plunger form a clamp.

3. The dripless nozzle of claim 1 wherein said resilient means is a coil spring. r i

4. A dripless nozzle comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a barrel slidably mounted within said housing;

c. an upper nozzle section connected to said housing and disposed in the upper portion of said barrel, said upper section having a central passageway therethrough;

' d. first spring means connecting said barrel to said 65 upper nozzle section;

e. a pivot member attached to the bottom of said upper section, said pivot member having a valve seat therein aligned with the passageway in said upper section; l a lower nozzle section having a vertical peripheral wall surrounding its upper surface, said lower section having an opening in its lower surface connecting to a continuous passageway which opens on said lower sections upper surface, and the lower portion of said lower section flaring outwardly to a diameter greater that than of said barrel to form a clamping plunger; I

second spring means connecting said peripheral wall to said pivot member; 7

. a valve ball in the upper surface of said lower sec tion situated to close the valve seat in said pivot member; said valve ball and said second spring means co-operating to tilt said lower section from vertical when said valve ball closes said valve seat; and,

. a check valve in the passageway of said lowerse'c' tion, said check valve opening in response to a decrease in upstream air pressure and closing when the upstream and downstream pressures equalize; and,

j. vacuum means for applying negative air pressure through the passageway in said upper nozzle section whereby when the neck of a filled bag is placed around said barrel and said lower section is made vertical, said valve ball will open admitting the vacuum in said passageway into the barrel and lower section passageway causing the housing to descend and clamp the bag neck between said plunger and housing and also causing the check valve to open to completely evacuate said bag and upon completion of the evacuation of the bag the check valve closes thereby preventing moisture from dripping into said bag.

5. The dripless nozzle of claim 4 including means for introducing compressed air into said barrel to release the clamp between said plunger and said housing.

6. The dripless nozzle of claim 4 wherein the lower portion of said upper section is positioned within said peripheral wall and both of said spring means are coil springs.

7. A dripless vacuum nozzle comprising:

at. upper and lower nozzle sections, each section having a vertical passageway therethrough;

b. an upper peripheral wall on said lower section defining a moisture collecting cup, said cup having a diameter sufficient to receive the lower portion of said upper section;

0. a ball member affixed to said lower section within said cup;

d. a valve pivot member connected to the lower extremity of said upper section, said pivot member having a valve seat therein aligned with said ball member and with the passageway in said upper section; and,

e. resilient means connecting said pivot member and said lower section and holding said ball member against said valve seat whereby when said lower section is pivoted said ball member is moved away from said valve seat allowing communication between the passageways in said upper and lower nozzle sections.

8. The dripless vacuum noale of claim 7 including heck valve means in said lower section, said check valve means opening and closing in response to differential air pressure. 

1. A dripless vacuum nozzle comprising: a. a barrel; b. an upper nozzle section having a passageway therethrough, said upper section being coaxially positioned within said barrel and resiliently connected thereto; c. a lower nozzle section having an upper peripheral wall defining a moisture collecting cup, said cup having a diameter sufficient to receive a lower extremity of said upper section, and said lower section having a passageway therethrough; d. a valve pivot member having an open valve seat therein, said pivot member being connected to the lower extremity of said upper section and said open valve seat being alinged with the passageway in said upper section; e. resilient means connecting said pivot member and said lower section; f. a ball valve member disposed on the upper surface of said lower section, said ball member being aligned to fit in said valve seat and to close same, and the height of said ball member with respect to said pivot member being such that the lower nozzle section tilts from vertical alignment within said barrel when said ball valve is closed; g. check valve means in the passageway in said lower section, said check valve means opening and closing in response to differential air pressure whereby, when said lower section is tilted so that it is vertical, air can be withdrawn through the passageway in said upper portion, through said ball valve, and through said passageway in said lower section to open said check valve thereby making a complete evacuation path to the lower tip of said lower section.
 2. The dripless nozzle of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said lower section is flared outwardly to form a plunger haVing a greater diameter than said barrel whereby said barrel and said plunger form a clamp.
 3. The dripless nozzle of claim 1 wherein said resilient means is a coil spring.
 4. A dripless nozzle comprising: a. a housing; b. a barrel slidably mounted within said housing; c. an upper nozzle section connected to said housing and disposed in the upper portion of said barrel, said upper section having a central passageway therethrough; d. first spring means connecting said barrel to said upper nozzle section; e. a pivot member attached to the bottom of said upper section, said pivot member having a valve seat therein aligned with the passageway in said upper section; f. a lower nozzle section having a vertical peripheral wall surrounding its upper surface, said lower section having an opening in its lower surface connecting to a continuous passageway which opens on said lower section''s upper surface, and the lower portion of said lower section flaring outwardly to a diameter greater that than of said barrel to form a clamping plunger; g. second spring means connecting said peripheral wall to said pivot member; h. a valve ball in the upper surface of said lower section situated to close the valve seat in said pivot member; said valve ball and said second spring means co-operating to tilt said lower section from vertical when said valve ball closes said valve seat; and, i. a check valve in the passageway of said lower section, said check valve opening in response to a decrease in upstream air pressure and closing when the upstream and downstream pressures equalize; and, j. vacuum means for applying negative air pressure through the passageway in said upper nozzle section whereby when the neck of a filled bag is placed around said barrel and said lower section is made vertical, said valve ball will open admitting the vacuum in said passageway into the barrel and lower section passageway causing the housing to descend and clamp the bag neck between said plunger and housing and also causing the check valve to open to completely evacuate said bag and upon completion of the evacuation of the bag the check valve closes thereby preventing moisture from dripping into said bag.
 5. The dripless nozzle of claim 4 including means for introducing compressed air into said barrel to release the clamp between said plunger and said housing.
 6. The dripless nozzle of claim 4 wherein the lower portion of said upper section is positioned within said peripheral wall and both of said spring means are coil springs.
 7. A dripless vacuum nozzle comprising: a. upper and lower nozzle sections, each section having a vertical passageway therethrough; b. an upper peripheral wall on said lower section defining a moisture collecting cup, said cup having a diameter sufficient to receive the lower portion of said upper section; c. a ball member affixed to said lower section within said cup; d. a valve pivot member connected to the lower extremity of said upper section, said pivot member having a valve seat therein aligned with said ball member and with the passageway in said upper section; and, e. resilient means connecting said pivot member and said lower section and holding said ball member against said valve seat whereby when said lower section is pivoted said ball member is moved away from said valve seat allowing communication between the passageways in said upper and lower nozzle sections.
 8. The dripless vacuum nozzle of claim 7 including check valve means in said lower section, said check valve means opening and closing in response to differential air pressure. 